The NIU women’s golf team heads to Iowa City, Iowa, this weekend to take on the Big Ten at the annual Lady Northern Intercollegiate Invitational.

It is a 54-hole tournament with the ladies playing 18 holes each day Friday through Sunday at Sinkbine, the course on the campus of the University of Iowa.

The Huskies are trying to regroup physically and mentally, according to coach Pam Tyska.

“Everyone knows what they have to work on this weekend,” she said. “Some areas are mechanics and are swing correctable. Others are mental mistakes. The girls cannot get frustrated.”

The Huskies will need to have it in high gear this weekend if they want to have a chance to medal. The entire Big Ten will be there, including defending Lady Northern champion Minnesota.

Illinois, which is coming off last week’s victory at Illinois State, will be there as well. The Illini also bring with them the top individual from the ISU Invitational in Rene Heiken.

Illinois State, Iowa State and Kansas State round out the field.

“You would have to say Minnesota is the favorite after winning it last year and losing no one to graduation,” Tyska said. “Then I like Illinois’ chances coming off last week, and you have Iowa on their home course.”

NIU has history working against it at the Lady Northern. No non-Big Ten team has won the tournament. NIU finished second last year and might have had a legitimate shot at winning it if it were not for Minnesota’s school-record second round.

The Huskies take the same lineup to Iowa City that they did last week to Illinois State, led by Kim Hodge, Karen Bromberg, Shelly Wendells, Jen Hall and Samantha Thompson.

The rules of the Lady Northern allow them to bring a sixth golfer so Tyska held a qualifier this past week and Amanda Mokelke stole the show. She nailed the first hole-in-one for a practice round in six years.

Mokelke did it on the 15th hole at the Sycamore Park District Course. It is a 135-yard par-3 and she used a six iron. She finished at even-par for nine holes and makes the trip with the team this weekend.